Bottle dispensing refrigerator



C. A. FRICK ET AL "BOTTLE DIsPENsING REFRIGERATOR Filed Jan. 15. 1931 Aug. 16, 1932.

c. A. FRlcK ET Al. i

BOTTLE DLSPENSING REFRIGERATQR Aug. 16, 1932.

F11ed Jan. 15, 1931 2 sheets-sheety 2 JVNI/ENToRs 6772.5 e r.Fric/fdnd BY Robez' E/fer,

A TTORNEYS Patented Aug. 16, l1932 UNITED STATES MTENT o'l-Flcsf CHESTER A. FRIOK A ND ROBERTV E. BAKER, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOBS TO GLASCOCK BROTHERS MFG; C0., F MUNOIE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F INDIANA.

:BOTTLE msrENsrNG mirarealzaronLl Application led January 1.5, 1931. Serial No. 508,904.

The invention relates to improvements in bottle dispensing refrigerators and has for one of its objects the provision of an extremely simple refrigerator construction, so arranged that the bottles will be progressively moved throughlthe refrigerant from their intake position to the delivery position, the arrangement being such that a warm bottle may be inserted in the refrigerator and a cooled bottle 30' removed therefrom through the same -opening in the cover or closure,

Other objects" and advantages will appear more fully inthe appended specification and claims.

For 'the purpose of disclosing the invention `certain embodiments thereofare disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view. partially in section, of

Fa refrigerator embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view there- 0 f Fig. 3 is a partial bottom plan of the cover or closure member;

Fig, 4 is a detailed sectionall view showing more particularly the propeller operating mechanism; ig. 5 is a detailed sectional view showing the means for maintaining thev` channel receptacle in position;

Fig. 6 is a plan,'partially in section, of a modified formw'f the invention;

Fig?? is an elevation, partially in section, of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6;- Y

Fig. 8 is a partial horizontal section showing -more fully the bottle propelling means;

Fig. 9 is a detailed section of receptacle, and

Fig. 10 is a detail of the channel propeller operating means of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6. In the embodiments of the invention illustrated, there is provided a preferably cylindrical casing comprising the cylindrical outer wall 1 and a cylindrical inner wall 2. These the channel walls are spaced apart and'have disposed therebetween suitable heat insulating material 3. A ring 4 resting on the wall 2 and provided with a recess to receive the top edge of the wall 3 covers the upper edges of the two walls. This ring is preferably held in position by screws 5, taking into angle lugs 6 spot welded or otherwise secured to the lnner wall 2. The inner wall 2 forms the Aside wall of an inner container open at its angle lugs 10 secured to the wall 2. These* screws take into a bottom ring 11 having an annular iiange 12 forming a support for the structure.

Within the tub or container formed by the `wall 2 and bottom 7 there is arranged a circulating bottle channel 13. This channel. is

formed by an outer cylinder 14 rotatably rest.

ing upon the bottom plate 15, and an inner cylinder 16 resting upon the bottom plate and provided forming a top closure member .for the channel 13.. Suitable bracing rings 18 are secured to the cylinders. Pins 19 permanently secured to the cylinder 16 pass through suit'- able openings vin the bottom plate 15 and through suitable openings in supporting lugs 20 interposed between the bottom plate 15 and the bottom 7. These pins position the wall 16 andfprevent Athe same from rotation and the lugs l720' space the ring plate 15 from the bottom Operating in the channel 13 is a bottle propeller 21 which is secured to the inner face of the cylinder 14 and movable therewith. This cylinder is also provided with upwardly extending projecting ears 22 rigidly secured .thereto by spot welding or otherwise, which with an annular iiange 17 Wall 2. The cover member on its under face is provided with two oppositely disposed recesses 28 and 29, the end shoulders 30 and 31 of, which form'stops or engaglng members for engagement with the projections 22 of the cylinder 14. These stops it will be noted are spaced apart so that there is a certain amount of lost motion between the cover member and the ring 14. The cover member is provided with an inlet-outlet opening- 32 which is certain of the rotated positions ot the cover member coincides with the opening 24.

In operation with the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, that is with the cover member 25 rotated in a clockwise direction until the opening 32 is out of alignment with the opening 24 and the shoulder 31 in engagement with the lugs to retract the propeller 21 to the position illustrated in dotted lines, the cover as a whole is rotated in a counterclockwise direction until the opening 32 coincides with the opening 24. Due to the lost motion between the shoulders and 3l, the

propeller will not be moved. Vith the parts in this position, a warm bottle of beverage is dropped through the openings 32 and 24. The counter-clockwise rotation' of the cover member now, due to the engagement of the shoulders 30 with the lugs 22, moves the propelle'r 21 in a counter-clockwise direction propelling the bottles'in advance of the propeller through the channel 13 and as this channel is filled with bottles with the eX- ception of the space of one bottle, a cold bottle, or the first bottle of the row, is propelled to a position immediately beneath the opening 24. The cover member `25 may now be rotated in a clock-wise direction to again register the openings 32 and 24, butjdue to the lost motion between the shoulders 30 and 31 and the pin 22 the propeller will not be moved. With the openings now in registry the cold bottle may be removed through the openings 24 and 32. A continued clock-wise rotation of the cover member will now engage the shoulders 31 with the pins 22 moving the propeller 21 in a clock-wise direction and at the same time moving the openings 32 and 24 out of registry thereby closing the device and placing the propeller in a position to receive another warm bottle in front of the same when the operation is repeated. In Figs. 6 to 10 is illustrated a modilied form of the invention. In the structure illustrated the outer enclosing easing comprising the outer and inner walls 1 and 2 the insulating filler 3, the top ring 4, the bottom 7, the bottom plate 8 and the supporting ring 11 are' substantially the same as the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5. The inner ring 33 is rotatably mounted on the bottom 7 The wall 2 of the container and the inner ring or cylinder 33, constitute the side walls of a channel. A top ange 34 corresponding to the top iange 17- provides a closure for the top of the channelway 35 corresponding to the channelway 13. This closure is provided with a delivery opening 36 corresponding to the delivery opening 24. A propeller 37 operates in the nel 35 and this propeller is provided with a lateral extension or projection 38 extending through an elongated slot in a rigidly mounted cylinder 48 to which the cover member 34 is attached. This propeller 37 is preferably mounted on the rotatable cylindrical member 3.3 mounted within the cylinder 48. The cover 40 is substantially the same as the cover member 25 and is provided with anopcning 41. This cover member has secured on its under face an-engaging member 42 provided with spaced apart projections 43 and 44 adapted to be disposed 011 either side of the propeller lug 38. `his engaging member 42 extends between the guard 49 and the cylinder 48.

The operation of the parts is substantially the same as that described with respect to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the projections 43 and 44 corresponding infunetion to the shoulders 3() and 3l and the projection 38 corresponding to the lugs or projections 22.

Itvwill be noted, in each instance that the inner walls of the bottle channels are perforated to permit free circulation of the cooling liquid about the bottles inthe channels and that the central space provides a refrigerant chamber 45 in each of. the structures.

Also in each instance, a drain cock 46 may be provided for drawing ott the cooling liquid or Huid.

It desired the top, in each instance, may be provided with an upwardly extending band 47 to provide a side wall for enclosing such bottles as may be placed on the top for display purposes and for preventing these pensing opening therein adapted to be moved into coincident relation with said channel opening, a propeller in said channel and a lost motion connection bet-Ween said cover member and said propeller.

2. In a bottle dispensing refrigerator, the

combination with a cylin drical container having an annular channel therein, a rotatable cylinder in said container, of a closure for the top of said channel having a single inlet and dispensing opening therein, a cover for said container rotatably mounted and having a single inlet and dispensing opening therein, adapted to be brought in coincident relation with said channel opening, a propeller secured to said rotatable cylinder and projecting into said channel and a lost mot-ion connection betlviveen said cover member and said rotatable wa 3. In a bottle dispensing refrigerator, the combination with -a cylindrical container, a rotatable cylinder mounted within saidcontainer, a second cylinder coincident with said rotatable cylinder and stationarily mounted and forming with said first mentioned cylinder a channel for receiving and supporting the bottles in upright side by 'side relation, a closure for the top of said channel supported by the stationary cylinder and having a single inlet and delivery opening therein, a cover member for said container rotatably supported thereon and having a single inlet and dispensing opening adapted to be moved into coincident relation with said channel opening, a propeller arranged Within said channel and secured to said rotatable cylinder and a lost motion connection between said` cover member and said cylinder.

4. In a channel dispensing refrigerator, the combination with a cylindrical container, of a pair of coincident spaced apart cylinders mounted within said container, one of which is rotatably mounted and which together form a bottle channel arranged to support the bottles in a side byside upright position, a closure member for said channel secured to the stationary cylinder and having a single inlet and outlet opening, a cover member for said container rotatably mounted thereon and having a single inlet and dispensing opening adapted to be moved into coincident relation with said channel opening, a propeller in said channel driven by said rotatable cylinder and a lost motion connection between said cover member and the rotatable cylinder.

5.. In a bottle dispensing refrigerator, the combination with a cylindrical container, of a .cylinder rotatably mounted therein and form- 1ng one wall of a channel adapted to support the bottles in an upright side by side relation, a cover member for said channel having a single inlet and outlet opening therein, a cover member for said container removably and rotatably mounted thereon and having a single inlet and dispensing opening adapted to be moved into coincident relation with the channel opening, a propeller secured to said rotatable cylinder and arranged in said channel and a lost motion separable connection between said cover member and said cylinder. y

6. In a bottle dispensing refrigerator, the combination with a cylindrical casing of a cylinder arranged therein concentric with the inner wall thereof and rotatably mounted, a second cylinder arranged therein stationarily mounted spaced apart from said rst mentioned cylinder and concentric therewith and forming with said first cylinder a channel, a closure for said channel having a single inlet and delivery opening therein, a

cover member for said container removably and rotatably mounted thereon, a propeller mounted upon said rotatable cylinder and extending through said channel and a separable lost motion connection between said cover and said rotatable cylinder.

7. In a bottle dispensing refrigerator, the

.combination with a cylindrical container havsupport the bottles in a side by side upright c position, a removable and rotatable cover for said container having a single receiving and dispensing opening therein, a propeller in said channel, a separable lost motion connection between said cover and said propeller and means for closing said opening in said cover except when the same is in dispensing or receiving position.

In witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands at Muncie, Indiana, this 173th day of January, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and thirty one.

CHESTER A. FRICK. ROBERT E. BAKER.

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